Friday, February 11, 2011

garden cats

Ah well, here I have a fresh new blog design and nothing new to show for it yet. New things are fine and dandy but as I've admitted before, I don't always work very fast. If truth were told I sometimes hardly work at all - those times when procrastination rules or the times I find myself wondering why I'm compelled to keep painting at all. I guess the answer to that is I'm the only person who sees things as I do which should be reason enough, but it's not always the case, is it? A few years ago when I began blogging I'd pretty much stopped painting but what I did was post pictures of the ones I still had access to either in originals (that mostly live in my portfolio) and a few photographs of ones sold or left behind. I was amazed when you liked them and asked for more.

There is a new one in the works but it will be a few days more before I can show you - or it suffers a major mishap. These things happen. In the meanwhile here's one of those older paintings so there's something different to look at on the revised background.

16 comments:

this is one of my favorites of your paintings, i love her and those tigers are just gorgeous...that doesn't say anything about how much i just adore that softness you achieve in your work! and good evening, it's 11pm there? wow, it's a bit after 7 here, isn't that weird?

anyway, i really like your new blog's look and don't think i told you..i like the bigger photos of your work! well, good night, sweet friend. xox

I love this one, and I'm happy to see it again. Though I confess I have captured a large "Susan Mills" folder in my "Artists" directory on my PC; Our oldest and I can review a portfolio whenever we like. There your images are stored alongside my favorites by Hundertwasser, Klimt, Filer, O'Keefe, Guaguin, Toulouse-Lautrec, Nolde, Schiele, Sorolla y Bastida, Moira_Hahn, Beardsley, Redon, and about a hundred other artists past and present, mostly late 19th century to the present.

linda - It had been about 2 years since I last posted this one and since I have some new visitors I figured it was okay. Besides, it's one of my favorites too :-) I just wish I could work faster.

You're right that the time difference to the west coast still feels strange to me too. Take good care. xoxo

nancy - I'm glad you like my paintings as much as you do. I really do appreciate your kind words.

francis - It was fun to paint too :-)

mrmacrum - I'm very glad you got to see it. There are a few others that may be worth showing again with the new format.

steve - I knew you'd remember it. When I started painting the semi-magical elements of the 19th century painters and illustrators were my inspiration. Just knowing my work is sitting alongside their magnificent work somewhere warms my heart more than words can say.

Unfortunately, the newest one wasn't matching my expectations and got trashed today :-( .. I have to really love an idea to make it work and I know you know what I mean.

kay - Welcome to phantsy. I'm glad you liked the painting and I'll return the visit.

liberality - I'm blushing :-)

lisa - It does, doesn't it? I look forward to painting the next thing and the one after in order to color and brighten your life even more.

I'm not a big fan of tigers, but I do ride a Triumph Tiger motorcycle. The older models came in blaze orange with three tiger stripes on the tank. Mine is blaze orange, but there are no stripes in my newer model. I have thought of getting a professional paint job with some kind of tiger or stripes or both. If I do, you'll be the first I consult as your tigers show great form and strength. (I also considered the Hanshin Tiger logo)Now, that woman. The hairdo, that "flip". I am drawn to it even though I favor the dark haired gals. And of course the breasts are beautifully shaped, (Remember, I like the presentation, not the size).You are an artist, there is no doubt. Keep doing what you're doing. The drawing, the painting. It's great work. Oh, and those borders!

belette - The new look wasn't planned at all but I got fed up a few days ago when I found myself using my hand to cover a quarter of the youtube screen again to see if it would show in the old format. With that in mind I just opened up the 'design' in blogger to see what I could find. I'm glad you like it and hope I'll have some new paintings to show some day :-)

cr - I always appreciate your praise and you know I love big cats :-) These things do move at their own pace and can't be forced. I have to love an idea to work a piece all the way through - large or small.

spadoman - The thing I like especially about tigers is their elegance and aloof nature. It's rare to see more than one at a time since they only hang out with each other when necessity calls. You're right that the Hanshin Tiger logo is very cool.

Susan - so sorry about the mishap with the new painting. I do know what you mean. I've painted over maybe a third of what I've started. I won't spend time and emotional energy when my heart's no longer in it. The results are usually disappointing when I try - wrong part of me engaged, I think.